May 17, 2011

Study Suggests (Incorrectly?) Steroid Nasal Spray Use Does Not Help with Eustachian Tube Dysfunction

A 2011 study was published on a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind prospective clinical trial (the best kind of research) to determine whether Nasacort AQ steroid nasal spray can resolve eustachian tube dysfunction as well as ear symptoms related to this disorder. Eustachian tube dysfunction at its mildest would cause symptoms of ear clogging much akin to the way the ears fill up when flying or driving up the mountain. At its worst, can lead to fluid buildup in the ear as well as chronic ear infections.

In the study population of 91 patients, they found that use of a steroid nasal spray did NOT help...

HOWEVER, after reading the paper, there is a major flaw to how the study was conducted which would significantly affect study outcomes. Mainly, how the nasal spray is used would strongly affect whether it will help or not.

According to the paper, patients were instructed to simply administer "2 metered sprays in each nostril once daily (55 µg per spray)..."

Nothing else.

Unfortunately, this type of administration is bound to fail, mainly because using a nasal spray in this manner is inadequate when addressing eustachian tube dysfunction.

First of all, the eustachian tube openings are at 90 degrees to the face, so the steroid nasal spray bottle needs to be directed towards the back of the head and not towards the eye. This needs to be specifically mentioned/demonstrated as it is not intuitive for most patients (and even doctors). The first picture is INCORRECT! The second picture is correct use. Read more here why directionality is important.

Second, a valsalva maneuver (blow air out the nose while keeping the nares pinched) must be performed after nasal spray administration in order to force the nasal spray medicine up into the eustachian tubes in order for the medication to affect the region of concern. Without a valsalva, the nasal spray medicine sits in the nasal cavity which would help with sinus problems, but not the ears which is the area of complaint. Valsalva needs to be done regularly throughout the day during treatment.

Why is this maneuver important? It's like pouring draino (steroid nasal spray) into a clogged toilet, but than not using a plunger (valsalva maneuver).

In any case, there are other studies that have found steroid nasal sprays to be helpful for eustachian tube dysfunction as listed under references.

Dr. Christopher Chang is a private practice otolaryngology, head & neck surgeon specializing in the treatment of problems related to the ear, nose, and throat. Located in Warrenton, VA about 45 minutes west of Washington DC, he also provides inhalant allergy testing/treatment, hearing tests, and dispenses hearing aids. He is also the chief medical officer of O2Labz, a medical and scientific 3D animation company.

6 comments:

Anonymous
said...

Wow. I have suffered with ETD for 30 years. Seriously. Obviously, over the years I have received prescriptions for the nose sprays, but like you say, they have never done a thing for my ears. Nothing...not a single thing. The only effect they have had is that they made my throat raspy for days. Not once in 30 years has a doctor told me that you have to administer the spray in a certain way and definitely nobody mentioned the Valsalva Maneuver as a requirement. I am grateful for this information. Thank you. I would assume this would even be temporarily beneficial with OTC sprays like Afrin. It makes total sense now that you have explained it. Without the spray actually getting inside the ET, it is useless. Again...thank you. I am going to start using it this way TODAY.

I have found that nasal sprays cause ear infections. The spray does an incredible job of preventing itching and swelling and running of the nose, but the body still produces histamines and the result is increased swelling in tube, the sinus cavity, and then I get really bad ear infections. The kind that need injections, and oral steriods and antibiotics to cure. When I stop using the nasal spray, the rate of occurrence of the ear infections drops as a function of a half life decay of about 3 months.

That "study" is nonsense. Nasal spray is the only thing that's unblocked my Eustachian tubes. Even if it's only temporary. The doctor said to try pseudoephedrine (which you can no longer buy otc, real helpful!!). But when I tried it it didn't seem to do anything. So I have no other choice but to stick with Flixonase nasal spray. It works even if I spray it straight up into the nose.

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